Senior Assistant Superintendent Andrew Child - who has been deputy manager, classification and placement, for the Western Region for three years - was awarded the Australian Corrections Medal after being nominated by his peers.

He is responsible for inmate classifications at Lithgow, Wellington, Macquarie (also at Wellington), Kirkconnell and Geoffrey Pearce (Windsor) prisons.

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According to Corrective Services NSW, Mr Child classifies inmates based on security assessment and offenders' circumstances.

Mr Child began his career with Corrective Services NSW in 1986 and has risen through the ranks to Senior Assistant Superintendent and also acting manager of security, working at centres in the Central West.

He has been recognised for his volunteer work with the Rural Fire Service during the December bushfires in the Blue Mountains.

Along with his local RFS brigade, he defended important infrastructure, including Lithgow Correctional Centre, a telecommunications tower, coal facilities and homes, according to Corrective Services NSW.

Mr Child, who has been an RFS volunteer for 23 years, said he was stunned to receive the Queen's Birthday List recognition.

"I'm just a volunteer doing what everyone else is doing, and we're all just doing our bit for the community," he said.

"I'd like to thank CSNSW for getting behind us volunteers and allowing us to go out and fight the fires by granting us leave on short notice.

"Local RFS units were stretched with many hours on the fire ground, and we wouldn't have been able to do it without their support."

Louisa Van Mal (John Morony Correctional Centre near Windsor) and Marty van Vegchel (Court Escort Security Unit, Moree) also received the Australian Corrections Medal.

Corrective Services NSW Commissioner Peter Severin said the three officers were well respected by their peers and demonstrated the calibre of people the organisation had in its ranks.

"The Australian Corrections Medal is the highest honour a correctional officer can receive, and the awarding of it to these three officers for their integrity, loyal service and outstanding achievements is well deserved," Mr Severin said.

"Louisa, Andrew and Marty lead and inspire their colleagues each day through a variety of roles at CSNSW and I congratulate them for this national recognition."

The Australian Corrections Medal is awarded to correctional officers around Australia for distinguished service and leadership.

The three recipients will be invested with their medals at NSW Government House later this year.